asked the Minister for Lands whether the Land Commission have decided to acquire the lands of a person (name supplied) in County Wicklow; and why this land was selected.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wicklow Estate.
57.
Proceedings for compulsory acquisition of an area of 208 acres on the estate in question were instituted by the Land Commission last September and an objection lodged on behalf of the owner is at present pending for disposal. The determination of lands to be acquired is a matter reserved exclusively to the Commissioners. I gather that the lands are considered suitable and required for the statutory purposes of the land reform programme.
Is the Minister aware that several hundred acres in the same area were sold to non-nationals in the last few years and that the Land Commission took no action to acquire them?
I do not think that has any real bearing on this particular question.
Is the Minister further aware that two or three days before the auction of this land the Land Commission served notice on the owner and that as a result, advertising to the value of £1,200 was lost by him?
The Deputy knows that, as I pointed out here, if the Land Commission consider these lands are suitable for the purpose of land resettlement then it is a matter for the Land Commission to make a decision in relation to this objection.